When French expertise firm Dracula Applied sciences showcased its new era of indoor photovoltaic cells at CES earlier this month, it signalled a possible step ahead in powering battery-free related units.
The corporate has made a reputation for itself producing electrical energy from ambient indoor mild, together with low-intensity LED sources.
Its new system, LAYER V2.0, now claims a 30% enchancment in efficiency below real-world indoor lighting situations.
IoT Insider spoke with Jérôme Vernet, VP Technique and co-founder of Dracula Applied sciences, to study extra in regards to the expertise and its potential functions.
IoT: What’s LAYER V2.0 and why is it 30% higher than the earlier era?
JV: We developed a singular solution to manufacture natural photovoltaic (OPV) modules utilizing inkjet printing, referred to as LAYER. Constructing on the primary profitable and promising era, we enhanced the efficiency by 30%. This enchancment is the results of a mixed optimization of chemistry, physics, and manufacturing processes.
IoT: How has LAYER V2.0 achieved that?
JV: Constructing on the foundations established with LAYER, this new era advantages from new uncooked ink supplies. Probably the most vital development with this new era is the event of a brand new lively materials ink that considerably improves the power era capabilities of OPV modules. This next-generation ink introduces two key improvements that improve general efficiency: Higher mild absorption: With new blue lively supplies, the lively space absorbs extra mild within the seen spectrum. This will increase general power seize, significantly below restricted indoor lighting situations the place ambient sources equivalent to LEDs present decreased mild depth. Larger conversion effectivity: The following-generation ink delivers improved electrical efficiency in comparison with the earlier ink era. This leads to a better open-circuit voltage, sometimes between 0.7 and 0.8 volts per cell.
IoT: What’s it really manufactured from?
JV: In an OPV module, the lively layer is an natural hydrocarbon layer composed primarily of carbon (C) and hydrogen (H). When this lively layer absorbs mild photons, it generates electron-hole pairs. These pairs are separated by an inside electrical subject, producing an electrical present that may be extracted outdoors the module through conductors often called bus bars. A conductive layer collects the present generated by the lively layer. In OPV modules, this operate is carried out by two electrodes: the underside electrode, sometimes manufactured from indium tin oxide (ITO), and the highest electrode. ITO is each electrically conductive and clear, permitting mild to succeed in the lively layer. The highest electrode completes the circuit whereas making certain environment friendly present assortment with minimal impression on mild absorption.
IoT: Why is that this vital?
JV: Past the chemistry and physics concerned, LAYER allows new functions that can not be addressed by conventional batteries or grid-connected options.
Wherever there are folks, there may be mild, pure or synthetic, direct or oblique, even at low ranges. That is exactly the place LAYER is most related. Low-light environments are the place LAYER turns into a recreation changer in comparison with different energy-harvesting applied sciences. Our energy-harvesting options can exchange batteries completely, prolong battery lifetime, or recharge sure battery sorts, considerably decreasing upkeep and waste in IoT deployments.
IoT: How does power harvesting from ambient indoor mild assist cut back reliance on disposable batteries in IoT functions?
JV: LAYER V2.0 allows functions that can not be realistically supported by batteries or wired energy. When deploying tons of of 1000’s and even thousands and thousands of units, counting on batteries that have to be changed and recycled is neither scalable nor sustainable. That is the proper second for brand spanking new IoT functions that require small, compact, sustainable, and reasonably priced power options for information assortment. On the identical time, we see sturdy optimization of sensor and electronics energy consumption, mixed with quickly growing demand for high-volume deployment.
IoT: How does inkjet printing contribute to each efficiency and customization of LAYER V2.0 modules?
JV: Inkjet printing permits us to deposit solely the mandatory quantity of uncooked materials, avoiding over-consumption. Materials is positioned exactly the place wanted, following a digital design strategy just like an ordinary graphic printer. This supplies nice design flexibility with nearly no limitations. There isn’t a want for masks or patterns, and we will optimize the lively space whereas minimizing lifeless zones, immediately enhancing module effectivity.
IoT: What tangible advantages does the improved efficiency of LAYER V2.0 provide to OEMs and system designers?
JV: The important thing ones are: increased energy – for a module utilizing the identical OPV cell floor space, OEMs can obtain as much as 30% increased energy output with out growing the module footprint.
Additionally the smaller footprint and decrease value signifies that for functions requiring the identical power era, OEMs can cut back the lively floor space by roughly 30%. This results in a smaller module footprint and a corresponding discount in module value.
IoT: How do adjustments to bus bars and the introduction of an ornamental high coating enhance aesthetics and integration?
JV: Earlier-generation OPV modules used copper bus bars to gather cost from the lively layer. Copper requires a minimal line width of round 3 mm to make sure dependable attachment to the substrate, which limits design flexibility and will increase lifeless zones, decreasing the efficient lively space. In LAYER V2.0, copper bus bars have been changed with silver bus bars. Silver presents wonderful conductivity whereas permitting a lot finer line widths. Because the bus bar width decreases, lifeless zones shrink and general energy capability will increase, relying on module format.
Copper deposition has been changed with display screen printing utilizing a silver paste. This method allows exact management of line width, with resolutions as superb as 0.5 mm. Silver additionally supplies a extra uniform visible look than copper.
Moreover, copper bus bars sometimes have a thickness of round 60 µm (micrometres) whereas OPV layers are roughly 1 µm thick. This mismatch can result in visible defects equivalent to trapped air bubbles. Display screen-printed silver reduces bus bar thickness to 10–15 µm, higher bridging the hole and decreasing defect threat. Lastly, a brand new ornamental high coating has been launched to boost each robustness and look. This coating improves scratch resistance and mechanical sturdiness whereas enabling extra discreet and aesthetically refined OPV designs. OEMs can select from totally different finishes relying on their software wants.
IoT: Why is LAYER V2.0 significantly nicely suited to low-light or intermittent mild environments equivalent to warehouses?
JV: In comparison with different present applied sciences, LAYER already supplies top-of-the-line options for low-light environments. With enhanced efficiency, LAYER V2.0 additional strengthens this benefit, making it particularly well-suited for indoor and intermittently lit environments equivalent to warehouses.
IoT: What future improvements and functions is Dracula Applied sciences focusing on because it continues to develop its OPV expertise?
JV: Future developments embrace new uncooked supplies, additional simplification of the manufacturing course of, and the reuse of elements of Dracula Applied sciences’ mental property for different markets, equivalent to indium tin oxide (ITO) alternative, significantly for versatile and sustainable digital functions.
